The International Energy Agency’s High Temperature Superconductivity Technology Collaboration Program (IEA HTS TCP) analyzed energy delivery applications for HTS. The product was a Readiness Map that illustrates the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) over time of HTS applications. Assessing these TRL levels is important since the electric power system that supplies our residential, commercial and industrial sectors is experiencing a transition to safer,more efficient and cleaner power supply.

The international experts assessed the present degree of technological development of the main transmission, substation and distribution HTS applications in the energy delivery sector and estimated the pathway to commercialization phase. Instead of using a specific TRL number 1–9 for each of the applications, they are categorized into low, medium and high TRL levels.

Superconducting fault current limiters and medium voltage AC cables to interconnect substations at the low side of the transformer are currently at a high TRL as they can be purchased in the market. High voltage AC and DC cables are at a medium TRL and could reach a high level TRL level in 2030–2035. Superconducting transformers are at a low TRL and they could reach a high TRL level by 2030–2035.